How To Delight In The Lord {Andy Ferguson}

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Romans 15:13

We all want to have an effective prayer life. We all desire to be heard by God and hear from God.

There are many places in scripture where these things are discussed, but for now let’s take a look at Job 22:25-28 to give us one clear example of how this can be attained.

“[If you] Make the Almighty your gold and your precious silver...” We can grasp the beginning of the verse by taking an understanding of what Jesus meant when he said, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matthew 6:21)

Follow me through this chain of logic: having your heart in the Almighty, meaning your strongest interest is in the Almighty. Your strongest interest is what is most important to you. If God (The Almighty) is most important to you, then you will most definitely have delight in the Almighty. And you will lift up your face to God - Job 22:26. [Raise your head to God sitting on the throne in Heaven] - in prayer and supplication (with thanks, love, and appreciation). You will pray to Him and He will hear you - Job 22:27.

We can let the implications of that sink in for a lifetime, though the wonderful promises given to us in the Bible continue! “...and you will pay your vows” which is to say - You will live out the promises that you have made to Him. When you declared and confessed God as Lord, Ruler of all (which includes yourself). This means actually living it out when you have said ‘let your will be done in my life, Lord guide and direct me.” “I have tried it my way and I realize that you are the true way, the life that I seek is in you.” You are life to the fullest-eternal life, the gift I receive from you, God. This is you (Christian, child of God) paying your vows. Living out your life in obedience and worship of the one who saves you from evil and declares you “not-guilty!” for all of your sins.

Living this life is the embodiment of the line in (Job 22:27) “...and you will pay your vows,” but guess what?!...the very next line is “you will also decide and declare a thing, and it will be established for you.” God answering your prayers is an example of grace and works co-existing in a selfless, love-filled relationship. It is the result of treasuring God and living in obedience to Him. To finish out the verse is another gem that we could ruminate on for hours“...and the light will shine on your ways.”(Job 22:28) In other words, your ways (what you do) will be blessed by God working in your life and through you.